#SUPER SONIC SPACE PIONEER FREE#

Garneau said the space station and accompanying orbiting manufacturing plants could lead to breakthroughs in the manufacture of purer medicines and materials for conductors because the processes would be free of the effects of atmospheric pressure and gravity experienced on Earth.īondar said considerable research will be to be done on the effects of prolonged isolation on the workers who would operate the orbiting space plants.Īikenhead, a graduate of what was then South Collegiate and later of the University of Western Ontario in 1950, said Canada was chosen to develop and manufacture the robot arm on all space shuttles 'because NASA had a good idea we could do it.' The experiments have involved life sciences and studies of natural phenomena, including a mysterious glow that surrounded the space shuttle in flight and could interfere with scientific observations. 'Certianly this tour might be serving my own self-interest,' said Garneau, who conceded he is eager to return to space, 'but the main reason is that people want to know what it was like and that's all there is to it.'Įxperiments he was involved in aboard the Challenger, and which he expects future Canadian astronauts to take part in, are not designed with any military goal in mind, he said. 'Most of the new astronauts are payload specialists and not flyers,' he said, although he noted that four of Canada's other six astronauts have aviation backgrounds, including Bondar, who has her pilot's license. Garneau a 36- year-old naval commander, said he was chosen for the shuttle flight because of his engineering and scientific background. Garneau, Bondar and Aikenhead were central figures at a news conference Tuesday morning and at a special film presentation for University Western Ontario students, faculty and the afternoon. This one is aimed at smaller cities and its final leg covered Windsor on Monday, London on Tuesday, Kitchener today and Kingston on Thursday and Friday. London was the 18th stop in Garneau's second national tour. He was also involved in the design and building of the Avro Arrow, the Canadian supersonic jet fighter that was scrapped in 1958 by the Diefenbaker government in what Aikenhead calls 'nothing short of vandalism.' He was accompanied by McMaster University neurosurgeon Roberta Bondar, who has her fingers crossed for what she calls 'a one in three' chance of being the first Canadian woman in space in 1986 or 1987, and by former Londoner Bruce Aikenhead, manager of technical development for Canada's astronautical program with the National Research Council in Ottowa.Īikenhead, and engineer, played a central role in the development of the remarkable Canadarm that manipulates space shuttle cargoes. National Aeronautics and Space Administration to participate in an international effort to build and orbiting space station, Garneau said, and he suggested his tour might gently propel Ottowa toward accepting the challenge when the decision is made 'some- time this month.'

privileged' experience.Ĭanada has been invited by the U.S. space shuttle Challenger in October, was in London on Tuesday to give people a taste of his 'extraordinary. Garneau, who spent eight days in orbit in the U.S.

Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut, concedes his second national tour might be considered a bit of a drum beating to promote Canada's involvement in the space cause, 'but the main reason is that people want to know what it was like.' THE LONDON FREE PRESS, Wednesday, March 13th 1985

Super sonic space pioneer